It keeps on shrinking!

We have had a busy couple of months but the most important thing to update you on is that the latest MRI shows further shrinkage to Isabella's brain tumor. We received the news yesterday, following Saturday's MRI. We will get a full report at the hospital on Thursday morning. We are amazed, over the moon and very pleased that Isabella can enjoy her birthday this Friday!

In other news this spring: Matilde tried snails on her birthday - needless to say, she said she didn't like them! She danced beautifully in her end of year spring performance. Here she is with her class in their beautiful costumes and then with a friend post-performance.

 

Isabella graduated to a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do. She had to do her whole sequence alone in front of the other belts, parents and the whole panel of instructors and the Master. She did brilliantly. We thought it would be good to end on a high, having gone a little cold on the sport earlier in the year. However, now she is determined to get to a black belt. Watch out! Here she is with Gregorio post graduation - we've taken this photo many times at this time of year.

Isabella also took her Grade 3 music theory exam ....results pending and she passed with a merit her Grade 2 piano exam. And if the Tae Kwon Do wasn't enough to drive Isabella forward, Gregorio promised her a grand piano when she has passed Grade 5. I think we may have to do some furniture rearranging in the next couple of years!

Both girls continue to enjoy music - in fact this is a house full of music which is wonderful. If the girls aren't arguing who can play the piano, Gregorio is strumming on one of his three guitars (he bought himself another for his birthday) sometimes complete with amplifier and drum machine.

Between all these events there seem to be the usual round of parties - birthdays, end of year events, beginning of summer gathering and the darn leaving party. This year seems particularly bad - the girls are loosing quite a few friends from school and some dear friends seem inevitably bound for the UK. On the plus side we have some dear friends returning and some others moving to DC shortly for the first time. You know who you are, we are sad and happy at the same time.

Friday, our baby (!) Isabella graduates from primary school. It is hard to believe - more photos to follow. They have been preparing for the ceremony for weeks with songs, speeches about their friends and peers. From the Year 6 graduation ceremony and party we will roll home and enjoy Isabella's disco dancing BBQ party!

For her graduation present, Isabella asked to have her ears pierced  so a couple of weeks ago I took her to get it done (Gregorio said it was my ritual, he'd do tattoos and navel piercing!!) Anyway, the nurse was amazed, Isabella did not flinch just smiled once she knew she had holes in her lobes and she has been beaming ever since and proudly takes care of her ears every night.

Next week the much awaited summer holidays can begin. The summer begins with Grandpa Ross visiting and a trip to Miami. Later on more visitors, sailing camp, tennis camp and more time at the beach in South Carolina.

Happy times.
Lots of love to all,
Emma & Gregorio xxx